Back in 2002 during the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, I was working at BBC 2002 Commonwealth Games Radio. I got a phone call from the manager of BBC GMR asking if I was available to present their Sunday Breakfast programme as holiday cover.
This was the first time I met the programmes’ producer Ali.
I did the three shows and thought nothing more of it until, at the end of Commonwealth Games Radio I was offered the job as Assistant Editor of BBC GMR and I was asked to take over the programme on a permanent basis.
Since then, the station has changed its name back to BBC Radio Manchester and I have presented the programme every Sunday morning between 7 and 9, with a couple of small exceptions.
The producer of the programme is now Rebecca Kelly and we feature a Multi Faith mixture of Interviews, discussions and guests plus an awesome selection of Christian music.
About a month ago the Senior Producer, Lawrence Mann called me up and asked if I would consider starting the programme an hour earlier at 6:00am and playing an hour of pure Gospel music. It took me about 3 seconds to decide and quickly said yes.
I have wanted to present a programme like this for a number of years and the moment had finally arrived. In the run-up to the first programme I spent hours listening again to my Gospel collection. I went to the local Wesley Owen shop and picked up some sensational stuff and I also got some awesome suggestions from my mate Steve Quirk.
On this page on mikeshaft.com I am going to list the songs I play each week to keep you aware of the great Gospel Music that is available out there.
You can of course listen to the Gospel Hour on BBC Radio Manchester each Sunday morning by tuning in to 95.1FM in the Greater Manchester area or by logging on to bbc.co.uk/Manchester and following the links from there.
I hope you get a chance to listen to the show and to the great Gospel music we are playing.
I do hope you enjoy them.
